Make Corporate Videos (So You Can Actually Pay Your Bills)

Yes. It is. But did you ever wonder what to do with all your filmmaking experience and all the filmmaking equipment in your closet?

One way you can put your skills to use (and pay bills as your plan your bigger film projects) is to make corporate videos.

Seriously. When you make corporate videos, you unlock the world of filmmaking opportunity.

Make Corporate Videos

One of the things that I love about Jason’s philosophy is his passion for the openness of the filmmaking world in our modern times.

As he says, “There are no gatekeepers any more, anyone can make a movie.”

I am just as passionate as Jason about a filmmaker’s ability to make corporate videos (industrial film) for exactly the same reason.

The beauty of finding out how to make corporate videos is that any filmmaker can break in without any barriers to entry. It is a true meritocracy – we all have the same chance of success!

The very first film I ever made was a corporate video. And how I came to make it is a perfect illustration of the opportunity that is open to all filmmakers.

Ask For The Business

I was walking past a fringe (think off-Broadway) theater here in London in 1987. I noticed they were having some building work done and the whole theater was being renovated. I immediately asked myself if they were having a video record made of the events.

So, I marched in there and asked to speak to the manager. I pitched him the idea of making a video about his theater’s renovations and he loved it. I was commissioned on the spot.

Now, get this. At this point in my life I WAS NOT EVEN A FILMMAKER! I saw an opportunity and just happened to know a couple of friends who had made an amateur video and I thought, “How hard can it be to make a film, if they can do it?”

Can you imagine if I had walked into a TV network headquarters, asked to speak to the manager and then pitched a drama series idea on the spot? Wouldn’t happen. And would I have been commissioned on the spot?

No freaking way.

It would have had to go to this committee, that committee, the executives upstairs, and then? Who knows.

But I’m sure I would have been left hanging for months.

Not to mention the doubts that would have been raised about my total lack of experience and no track record. And meanwhile, I wouldn’t have been earning a penny and having to work a terrible office job or stack shelves at the supermarket. And who wants that?

Listen to me. If you want to make a living as a filmmaker, there is no better way to start than to look at the whole world of opportunity that awaits you in the corporate video sector.

DEAL: as one of Jason’s readers, you can save 10% on the course using discount code: JBFS14CO

– – –

I’m Brian Barnes and I have been making corporate videos since 1987. I’ve made videos for 3 of the world’s top 5 brands – Apple, Google and Microsoft – and I won the Snippies award for my video for Intel. In late 2013, I made a comedy commercial for car finance company Carloan4U, which more than doubled their web traffic when it went live.

I’m currently in post-production on my first feature film, The Redeeming, and I’ve co-directed 2 previous feature films. I’ve directed over 500 hours of TV and made 23 short films, including the multiple award-winning psychological horror The Urge.

About Guest Filmmaker Blogger

This post was written by a guest filmmaker blogger. Please see more information about their bio in the post above. If you'd like to write a guest article for Filmmaking Stuff check out our Write for Filmmaking Stuff page for details about how YOU can share your ideas to the filmmaking community.

Comments

Well done, James. I’m very pleased that you’ve found an opportunity to make a living from your filmmaking skills. And I’m sure you’ll find some ideas in my free presentation to help you expand your business beyond what you’re doing right now. It can be dangerous to rely on just one client.

Corporate video projects have not only saved my LIFE, but they’ve enhanced my skills and development has a director. Not everyone is lucky enough to find a consistent stream of work from ANY client, let alone corporate clients… so for that I’m thoroughly grateful. I’ve been producing and directing educational vignettes for Law students on a behalf of a major Business/Legal publishing company for 4 years now. One of my buddies from the neighborhood worked his way up in this company and one day… when he was promoted and given the responsibility of managing their digital materials department, he called me in (I had been kickin around in the web series/viral video world) we worked up some numbers and he put me to work.

Now I’m actually writing, producing and directing for them… with more work coming. If only I had time to finish my short film….

Affiliate Disclosure:

You should assume that the owner of this website is an affiliate for providers of goods and services mentioned on this website and may be compensated when you purchase from a provider. To learn more, Click Here.

About Jason Brubaker

Jason Brubaker is a Hollywood based Independent Motion Picture Producer and an expert in Video On Demand distribution. He is focused on helping YOU make, market and sell movies more easily by growing your fan base, building buzz and creating community around your title. He is also available for speaking engagements.Read More…